Nico Carrillo says he does his best work when he’s going through adversity: “That’s where I thrive”

Nico Carrillo does his best work when he's forced to fight through adversity. 'King of the North' proved that much in his last outing at ONE Friday Fights 46 in December.

Stepping into the Circle with former ONE world champion Nong-O Hama, things were looking dire for the Scot after his opponent spent the majority of the opening round absolutely decimating his lead leg with an onslaught of calf kicks.

But instead of throwing in the towel, Carrillo kept moving forward, overwhelming Nong-O in the second stanza and securing a stunning second-round KO against a veritable legend.

During a recent interview with Sky Sports MMA Club, Carrillo suggested that the absolute best version of himself tends to come out when he's forced to walk through the fire.

"And that’s where for me, that’s where a fighter’s standards or mentality shows," Carrillo said. "Coming through adversity, coming through something, the ability to come out of the flames, go through the fire, coming out of the corner, and turning the tide around. That’s where the growth is and that’s where I thrive."

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Nico Carrillo faces another tough test at ONE Fight Night 23 on July 5

With three impressive finishes under the ONE Championship banner, Nico Carrillo will look to add another noteworthy win to his resume on Friday, July 5 when he returns to the Circle for a showdown with Thai superstar Saemapetch Fairtex.

Nico Carrillo will put his No.1 ranking in the bantamweight Muay Thai division on the line against Saemapetch who currently sits in the No.4 spot.

Going back to Aug. 2022, the Thai has alternated wins and losses, keeping him out of the title picture.

However, if Saempetch can manage to score a win over Carrillo inside the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, he could very well be the next man in line for Jonathan Haggerty's 26 pounds of Muay Thai gold.

ONE Championship fans in the United States and Canada can watch ONE Fight Night 23 live and for free via Amazon Prime Video in U.S. primetime on Friday, July 5.